I'm mostly looking to just spend some quality time on the lake. I do like wakeboarding, but it seems that a wakeboard boat is very expensive. We typically won't have more then 5-6 people on the lake with us.

for 12K you can buy any of the above. a wakeboard tower is available after market to fit practically any boat. 6 friends and a sunbather sounds like a pontoon to me. you can really score with that much money...shop around. avoid the jet boat. real gas burners. lol.

I paid $11000 for a '99 glastron sx195 with 250 hours on it, it is an inboard/outboard with 225hp. We fit my whole family of 7 in it with no problem,
Wakeboarding is no problem, we have had a blast on it all summer and can't wait for next summer.

it depends on which country you come from s to brand of boat ? Probably a boat with a shallow V hull for planning and wakeboarding. fibreglass hull for strenght, durability and especially comfort in chop.